Clothes-line stretcher and support.



E. B. BERTWELL.

CLOTHES LINE STRETCHER AND SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-3|. I916.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

it i

ELGIN B. BERTWELL, OF BEAVER CITY, OKLAHOMA.

CLOTHES-LINE STRETCHER AND SUPPORT.

Application filed August 31, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELGIN B. BERTwELL, a citizenof the United States,residing at Beaver City, in the county of Beaver, State of Oklahoma,have invented new and useful Clothes-Line Stretchers and Supports; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new and useful clothes line stretcher andsupport, and an object of the invention is to provide a device of thiskind, which is simple in construction and efficient in operation, andmay be manufactured and sold at a small cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide standards or posts whichmay be adjusted vertically, so as to raise or lower the clothes line.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of pivotedstandards or posts, which, when the clothes line is not used, may becollapsed, in combination with means for holding the standards invertical positions.

In practical fields, the details of construction may necessitatealterations falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, ashereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings, and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the improvedclothes lie stretcher and support.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the clothes line supportingstandards and the means for holding the same in a vertical position.

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 and 2 designate a pair ofplates. Secured on each plate at one end by means of the bolts 3 is anauxiliary plate 4 having ears 5, between which on a pivot bolt 6 astandard 7 is pivoted. This standard consists of two sections 8 and 9,which are telescopically united. The lower portion of the section 8 isprovided with a series of apertures 10, any one of which may receive thepin 11, which extends transversely of the upper end portion of thesection 9, so as to hold the section 8 in differentvertical adjustedpositions, whereby the clothes line 12 (which is connected to the eyes13 of the sections 8) may be raised and lowered. Se-

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 16, 1918- Serial No.117,931.

cured to the underface of the base plate 1 by means of the bolts 14 is aplate 15 of the standard 16 of an anchor 17 which is driven or embeddedin the ground, thereby holding the base plate 1 firmly in place. Securedon each base plate 1 by the bolts 18 is a sector plate 19, to which afoot lever is pivoted by means of the bolt 20. This foot lever issubstantially angular and consists of the two arms 21 and 22, the arm 21terminating in foot trip plate 23. Also pivoted upon the sector plate,as shown at 24, is a lever 25 on which a slide 26 is mounted. The arm 22of the foot lever is pivoted to an car 27 of the sliding sleeve 26. Thefree end portion 28 of the lever 25 on one edge is provided with aseries of ratchet hook teeth 29, any one of which is designed to engagethe pin 30, which is carried by the section 9 of the pivoted standard,so as to hold the standard in a vertical position. It is to be notedthat when there are two standards, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby a clothesline connects the upper ends of the same, the ratchet levers 25 willoperate against each other, and it will be noted that by moving thestandards pivotally from each other, the clothes line 12 may be drawnand held taut by the pins 80 ratcheting over said teeth 29. Bydepressing the foot lever. it is to be noted that the ratchet lever maybe thrown out of engagement with its respective pin 30, in which casethe standard is allowed to collapse. Only one standard may be used, andin this case, it is necessary to connect one end of the clothes line toa stationary support, then the single standard may be ad- .justed todraw the clothes line tight.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and usefulis 1. In a clothes-line stretching and supporting device, thecombination of a baseplate having means to attach the plate to theground and a clothes-line standard or post pivoted thereon and having alaterally extending pin, and means consisting of a ratchet levercooperating with the pin for holding the standard or post at variousangular positions to the plate, said standard being adjustable axially,means for holding the standard in different adjustable positionsaxially. and a foot-operated means for releasing said ratchet lever fromsaid pin to permit said standard to fall.

2. In a clothes-line stretching and supporting device, the combinationof a baseplate having means for attaching the plate I to the ground anda clothes-line standard or post pivoted thereon and having a laterallyextending pin, and means consisting of a ratchet lever cooperating withthe pin for holding the standard or post at various angular positions tothe plate, said standard being adjustable axially, means for holding thestandard in dilferent adjustable posi tions axially, and a foot-operatedmeans for releasing said ratchet lever from said pin to permit saidstandard to fall, said footoperating means comprising a bell-crank leverhaving a foot-rest, a sector-plate to Which said bell-crank lever andsaid ratchetlever are pivotally connected and a slidingsleeve engagingsaid ratchet lever and pivotally connected to said bell-crank "lever.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ELGIN B. BERTVELL.

Witnesses: i

H. N. LAWSON, M. B. SMITH.

(Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of IPatents,

Washington, D. C.

